If you haven’t launched a mobile app before but have a great concept, where do you start?
As overwhelming as the design and development of an app might seem, once you understand the step-by-step process of creating an app, it is more straightforward than you might expect.
Here is the exact process you need to follow when building and launching a mobile app that will be a financial and personal success.
Define Your Target Audience
The best apps are ones targeted to a particular group of users with a specific need in mind.
Before a mobile application development agency begins any design and development work on your app, consider the type of customer who will purchase your app. Think about what they need and why they will choose your app.
That is your market research phase, and it is critical if you want your app launch to succeed.
Take time to think about your customer:
- Who is your customer?
- What are their interests?
- What problem do they have that you want to solve?
You can also use this market research phase to run surveys and questionnaires to get a better picture of your target market.
Define User Goals
After you know who you are marketing your app to, it is time to think specifically about the app you are going to design.
Before opening up your design software, take a step back. Think about the bigger purpose of your app. What end goal or goals is your user going to achieve when they download your app?
By starting with the end goal in mind, you can help keep the design process focused and fast, and you will end up with a better product.
Create User Journeys
After you have an end goal for your app, it is time to start thinking in more detail about the features and functionality that your app will have to help your users.
Start by looking at user journeys. Map out the journey from point A to point B that your user will take when they first download your app and when they finally hit their goal.
Many apps will have multiple user journeys, so repeated this process as many times as you need to.
Sketch Out a Prototype
Now the fun part of app development can begin. It is time to design your prototype.
A prototype is one of the best ways to start a new mobile app, as it will give you an early working model that will act as a proof of concept.
That will help test how strong your app idea is (and your business model) and whether you need to refine it before doing a formal app launch.
Start with prototype wireframes. Use your user journeys to sketch out the screens that will be built for your app, labeling up functionality and designing how the user will get to all points on their journey.
Create the Design and Branding
Design wireframes will form the starting point for your app design and branding work. This stage is all about creating a look and feel for your app.
Think back to your market research and what your target customers want. That will guide your design work.
The type of customer you want to attract will shape how the app will look. An education app for toddlers, for example, will have a very different design and brand to a fitness app for adults.
Make sure you employ professionals who have experience in mobile app development to put this design together. Design can make or break an app, so it has to stand out for usability and that “wow” factor.
Design and Development of Your Prototype
Now it’s time to build your app. Before committing time and money to the full app development, test your concept first with a prototype.
A good prototype will focus on the core functionality and one or two key user goals. We can compare this to building the foundations of a house. A strong and solid foundation will allow you to create a fantastic feature-rich application later on.
If you don’t have in-house experience in coding apps, you can look for app development companies at this stage of the process to give you the technical support you need.
Test Your App
Testing is critical at every point in your mobile development. By building a prototype first, you can keep your first testing period focused and fast.
Use your user journeys as a basis for your testing. That will be the experience your users will have when they download your app. It is vital to ensure it is a seamless experience from end to end.
Beta Test Your App With Users
After you have tested your app internally, it is time to release it to the world. With a prototype, it is worth considering releasing your app to a private group of beta testers.
You can start recruiting these beta testers during your prototype development.
Depending on your industry, it might also be worth offering an incentive to beta testers. Incentives will ensure they spend quality time on the app and give you thorough feedback.
Develop Your First Release
Don’t be disheartened if you get negative feedback from your beta test. That information is what is going to help you turn your beta prototype into a market-leading full release.
Your full development may involve some redesign work, depending on the types of issues your beta group experienced. This development phase will also including adding all the additional features you left out of your prototype.
Test Your Release
Now it is time to do a bit more testing. Testing is always necessary, but at this stage of app development, it is crucial. This phase is your final chance to make sure your app works as expected before releasing it into the market.
Launch in the App Store
After you have developed and tested your final release, you are ready to launch your app in the app store.
It is wise to run a marketing promotion before your launch to recruit your first few thousand users.
Try creating an ad campaign directing people to a landing page and a signup form. Use email marketing promotions to tell people about the dates of your launch.
Building a Mobile App – Are You Ready?
It is easy to make a mobile app. But if you want to create an app that will impress users and make you money, then always spend time getting that design and development right from day one.
Think about your own experience when using apps and how you react to apps you like and apps you dislike. Use this experience to focus on building the best app you can.
What is your favorite app, and why is it your favorite? Tell us in the comments below, and let’s see what we can all learn about mobile app development from the best examples.
